Taran B.
@taranbhartt.bsky.social
Author of sci-fi/fantasy stories and poetry. Lifelong palaeontology and nature nerd! Anti-AI and unwilling to give up em-dashes. Here’s five out of spite! — — — — —
Reposted by Taran B.
Endangered Species of the Philippines 🇵🇭
November 22, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Endangered Species of the Philippines 🇵🇭
Reposted by Taran B.
Massive shoutout out to whoever handles the Royal Canadian Air Force’s social media account. They responded to every single comment on their already very solid Trans Day of Remembrance post and they responded like this…
November 22, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Massive shoutout out to whoever handles the Royal Canadian Air Force’s social media account. They responded to every single comment on their already very solid Trans Day of Remembrance post and they responded like this…
Reposted by Taran B.
🦎✨ New research delivers the 1st full 3D anatomical atlases of the veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus)! Open-access atlases + lesson plans offer powerful new tools for studying reptile evolution and teaching comparative anatomy.
Leavey et al.: anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Leavey et al.: anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
November 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM
🦎✨ New research delivers the 1st full 3D anatomical atlases of the veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus)! Open-access atlases + lesson plans offer powerful new tools for studying reptile evolution and teaching comparative anatomy.
Leavey et al.: anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Leavey et al.: anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Taran B.
The real “Dolores”? I was recently commissioned to create a pencil sketch of Aquilops - a dinosaur which I’d never really paid proper attention to. In the l course of my research I became a bit obsessed and felt compelled to also create this more detailed illustration as a personal project.
#SciArt
#SciArt
November 22, 2025 at 10:38 AM
The real “Dolores”? I was recently commissioned to create a pencil sketch of Aquilops - a dinosaur which I’d never really paid proper attention to. In the l course of my research I became a bit obsessed and felt compelled to also create this more detailed illustration as a personal project.
#SciArt
#SciArt
Reposted by Taran B.
Racism is not justified by immigration levels or rising poverty, unemployment or crime.
It is not justified, period.
I see the rising wave of voices & arguments justifying the rising levels of racism as the most sinister political development in 2025 on the British landscape.
It is not justified, period.
I see the rising wave of voices & arguments justifying the rising levels of racism as the most sinister political development in 2025 on the British landscape.
The Home Secretary explaining that the rise in racist violence is, actually, the natural response to higher levels of immigration is a state of affairs that can't exist without the government having largely decided that racist violence is, if not legitimate, at least understandable.
November 22, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Racism is not justified by immigration levels or rising poverty, unemployment or crime.
It is not justified, period.
I see the rising wave of voices & arguments justifying the rising levels of racism as the most sinister political development in 2025 on the British landscape.
It is not justified, period.
I see the rising wave of voices & arguments justifying the rising levels of racism as the most sinister political development in 2025 on the British landscape.
Reposted by Taran B.
Honestly, I don’t care at this point, use AI and perish. Get a better publisher, this one is SHIT. Why would you want to continue with them?? They clearly don’t give a shit about art and artists, probably including writers.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
"Wilson said it was also upsetting for the production and design team, who had worked hard on the books."
I would have thought "working hard" might involve bothering to get an actual cover artist to do actual art for the covers but that's just me
"Wilson said it was also upsetting for the production and design team, who had worked hard on the books."
I would have thought "working hard" might involve bothering to get an actual cover artist to do actual art for the covers but that's just me
Authors dumped from New Zealand’s top book prize after AI used in cover designs
Ockham Book Awards dropped two titles from contention after new guidelines introduced on artificial intelligence use
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Honestly, I don’t care at this point, use AI and perish. Get a better publisher, this one is SHIT. Why would you want to continue with them?? They clearly don’t give a shit about art and artists, probably including writers.
Reposted by Taran B.
What might be my favourite fossil has been just published by Kiat et al. 2025. Years ago I saw a pic of this Anchiornis specimen in nat geo article and I audibly gasped.preserving not only the feathers but also the original patterns as well. I made this drawing on the spot. Maybe its time to do v2.0
November 21, 2025 at 7:27 PM
What might be my favourite fossil has been just published by Kiat et al. 2025. Years ago I saw a pic of this Anchiornis specimen in nat geo article and I audibly gasped.preserving not only the feathers but also the original patterns as well. I made this drawing on the spot. Maybe its time to do v2.0
Reposted by Taran B.
Sad and cold day. Feeling more isolated than usual.
I don’t know what else to do to say. It’s not like someone will magically appear to hug me for hours.
I don’t know what else to do to say. It’s not like someone will magically appear to hug me for hours.
November 20, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Sad and cold day. Feeling more isolated than usual.
I don’t know what else to do to say. It’s not like someone will magically appear to hug me for hours.
I don’t know what else to do to say. It’s not like someone will magically appear to hug me for hours.
Reposted by Taran B.
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, I hope Albertans will remember that trans kids and teens are living breathing humans who just want to be themselves, without fear of hate and discrimination. Demonizing kids merely to score political points in some weird culture war is craven and cruel.
November 20, 2025 at 8:21 PM
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, I hope Albertans will remember that trans kids and teens are living breathing humans who just want to be themselves, without fear of hate and discrimination. Demonizing kids merely to score political points in some weird culture war is craven and cruel.
Reposted by Taran B.
Doing this two days before TDoR is particularly vile.
Alberta invokes notwithstanding clause on trio of transgender laws
The Alberta government has invoked the Charter’s notwithstanding clause for the second time in less than a month in this case to protect from legal challenge a trio of laws affecting transgender youth...
www.ctvnews.ca
November 18, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Doing this two days before TDoR is particularly vile.
Reposted by Taran B.
Thanks to @thetyee.ca for republishing my op-ed about Danielle Smith and the Notwithstanding Clause. ✨
Always glad to see outlets beyond LGBTQ2S+ publications platforming and highlighting trans voices on issues like this
Always glad to see outlets beyond LGBTQ2S+ publications platforming and highlighting trans voices on issues like this
@melwoods.me: We must not overcomplicate what’s going on here.
This is the Alberta government saying the rights of trans kids to receive life-saving health care, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams don’t matter as much as the Smith government’s right to dictate their lives.
This is the Alberta government saying the rights of trans kids to receive life-saving health care, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams don’t matter as much as the Smith government’s right to dictate their lives.
Danielle Smith Goes Nuclear on Trans Rights | The Tyee
Alberta’s premier is overriding Charter protections. Here’s a fact check on her claims.
thetyee.ca
November 20, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Thanks to @thetyee.ca for republishing my op-ed about Danielle Smith and the Notwithstanding Clause. ✨
Always glad to see outlets beyond LGBTQ2S+ publications platforming and highlighting trans voices on issues like this
Always glad to see outlets beyond LGBTQ2S+ publications platforming and highlighting trans voices on issues like this
Reposted by Taran B.
Alberta's government is engaged in something I can only describe as psychopathic politics.
What else do you call it when a government so set on pushing ahead with policies that WILL cause more trans youth to try to leave us?
When they'll trample on the charter to hurt these kids?
It's disturbing:
What else do you call it when a government so set on pushing ahead with policies that WILL cause more trans youth to try to leave us?
When they'll trample on the charter to hurt these kids?
It's disturbing:
November 19, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Alberta's government is engaged in something I can only describe as psychopathic politics.
What else do you call it when a government so set on pushing ahead with policies that WILL cause more trans youth to try to leave us?
When they'll trample on the charter to hurt these kids?
It's disturbing:
What else do you call it when a government so set on pushing ahead with policies that WILL cause more trans youth to try to leave us?
When they'll trample on the charter to hurt these kids?
It's disturbing:
Reposted by Taran B.
Reposted by Taran B.
Reposted by Taran B.
Reposing/articulating the Smithsonian Triceratops mount (available for download on their Sketchfab page: sketchfab.com/.../tricerat.... ) certainly was not on my bingo card for today. But here we are. A solid new baseline for me to work off of. For... reasons.
November 7, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Reposing/articulating the Smithsonian Triceratops mount (available for download on their Sketchfab page: sketchfab.com/.../tricerat.... ) certainly was not on my bingo card for today. But here we are. A solid new baseline for me to work off of. For... reasons.
Reposted by Taran B.
Proper thread time! Today marks the publication of my fourth book, Spinosaur Tales, this one written with and illustrated by @markwitton.bsky.social. It's out now in the UK (hardback, audiobook, ebook) and will be out elsewhere in Jan 2026. It covers all things spinosaurian, including Spinosaurus.
November 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Proper thread time! Today marks the publication of my fourth book, Spinosaur Tales, this one written with and illustrated by @markwitton.bsky.social. It's out now in the UK (hardback, audiobook, ebook) and will be out elsewhere in Jan 2026. It covers all things spinosaurian, including Spinosaurus.
Reposted by Taran B.
IT’s HERE! The trailer from Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age!
I cannot wait for you to watch it! Once again, I’m so proud to be part of the amazing and talented group of people who help put this series together!
#PrehistoricPlanet
youtu.be/f7kvwp9aIyM?...
I cannot wait for you to watch it! Once again, I’m so proud to be part of the amazing and talented group of people who help put this series together!
#PrehistoricPlanet
youtu.be/f7kvwp9aIyM?...
Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age — Season 3 Official Trailer | Apple TV
YouTube video by Apple TV
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 5:36 PM
IT’s HERE! The trailer from Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age!
I cannot wait for you to watch it! Once again, I’m so proud to be part of the amazing and talented group of people who help put this series together!
#PrehistoricPlanet
youtu.be/f7kvwp9aIyM?...
I cannot wait for you to watch it! Once again, I’m so proud to be part of the amazing and talented group of people who help put this series together!
#PrehistoricPlanet
youtu.be/f7kvwp9aIyM?...
Reposted by Taran B.
I knew it would take less than a day for a tiktok dj to make something.
November 5, 2025 at 12:13 PM
I knew it would take less than a day for a tiktok dj to make something.
Reposted by Taran B.
Alright, now that I'm not on the road - full thread on our new azhdarchoid phylogeny paper and what it means for pterosaurs big (like this one) and small! 1/23
November 5, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Alright, now that I'm not on the road - full thread on our new azhdarchoid phylogeny paper and what it means for pterosaurs big (like this one) and small! 1/23
I was so ready for the paleo-news to be Spinosaurus changing for the umpteenth time that Nanotyrannus being a valid taxon was extra mind-blowing!
I wonder about the implications for T. rex ecology: was there in fact ontogenetic niche shifting? Were leggy juveniles competing with Nano? So cool!
I wonder about the implications for T. rex ecology: was there in fact ontogenetic niche shifting? Were leggy juveniles competing with Nano? So cool!
Turns Out That ‘Mini T-Rex’ Wasn’t a Baby After All
An analysis suggests Nanotyrannus is a separate, smaller dinosaur that lived alongside T. rex, settling a 30-year debate
www.scientificamerican.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:00 AM
I was so ready for the paleo-news to be Spinosaurus changing for the umpteenth time that Nanotyrannus being a valid taxon was extra mind-blowing!
I wonder about the implications for T. rex ecology: was there in fact ontogenetic niche shifting? Were leggy juveniles competing with Nano? So cool!
I wonder about the implications for T. rex ecology: was there in fact ontogenetic niche shifting? Were leggy juveniles competing with Nano? So cool!
Reposted by Taran B.
Reposted by Taran B.
Infernodrakon’s roommate has a new binomial
An interesting quirk of today's taxonomic revision is that one jacket from the Jane Quarry, long assumed to contain specimens of famous species, actually contained what would become two holotypes of two distinct species — Infernodrakon hastacollis and Nanotyrannus lethaeus
October 30, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Infernodrakon’s roommate has a new binomial
Reposted by Taran B.
Today's bombshell in @nature.com by Lindsay Zanno & James Napoli @jgn-paleo.bsky.social (bit.ly/4qBE6ng) shows that putative juvvy T. rex fossils actually are Nanotyrannus. I reviewed the manuscript, so Nature invited me to write the News & Views commentary. Free link: rdcu.be/eNv94 🦖
October 30, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Today's bombshell in @nature.com by Lindsay Zanno & James Napoli @jgn-paleo.bsky.social (bit.ly/4qBE6ng) shows that putative juvvy T. rex fossils actually are Nanotyrannus. I reviewed the manuscript, so Nature invited me to write the News & Views commentary. Free link: rdcu.be/eNv94 🦖
Reposted by Taran B.
It's finished!! "My Avian Neighborhood": in total almost 100 hours of work in the span of 27 days to complete. So very proud of this one, it's going to be hanging in its first show over the next few months. Thank you to everyone who cheered me on, the species are in the alt text of the image! ✨
October 13, 2025 at 9:52 PM
It's finished!! "My Avian Neighborhood": in total almost 100 hours of work in the span of 27 days to complete. So very proud of this one, it's going to be hanging in its first show over the next few months. Thank you to everyone who cheered me on, the species are in the alt text of the image! ✨